[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 185 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6661-S6662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CAREER ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, when we in Congress are fortunate enough 
to win our elections, we then must take an oath of office. It is quite 
simple and straightforward: ``I do solemnly swear that I will support 
and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, 
foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the 
same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental 
reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully 
discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So 
help me God''--defend the Constitution and faithfully discharge the 
duties of this sacred office. Notably, the oath does not say defend the 
President over the rule of law or our constitutional duties.
  And yet President Trump has made crude and inexcusable attacks 
against our professional diplomats and military officials who bravely 
and patriotically tried to abide by this same oath by upholding these 
values of honor and the rule of law. Career professionals testifying as 
part of the ongoing impeachment inquiry are facing partisan attacks and 
even efforts that threaten their lives and careers. President Trump has 
made no secret of his long-held suspicion of government workers, which 
he and his allies have perpetually accused of trying to bring down his 
Presidency.
  That former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch told House 
Members that she felt ``threatened'' by our own President who called 
her ``bad news'' is despicable. In fact, Trump even attacked 
Yovanovitch on Twitter last week during her powerful public testimony 
before the House Intelligence Committee.
  There have also been countless baseless attacks and insulting 
questions of loyalty faced by witnesses such as LTC Alexander Vindman. 
Vindman, who was born in Kiev, immigrated to the U.S. and spent 20 
years as an Army officer, an officer who has shed blood for our 
country, as recognized by his Purple Heart.
  Twenty-five years ago, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was 
another longtime Army officer who was born behind the Iron Curtain. GEN 
John Shalikashvili was born in Poland and moved to Peoria, IL, when he 
was 16. Thank goodness he served our country in a time where his career 
was not derailed by such degrading attacks.
  I commend Defense Secretary Esper for promising that Lieutenant 
Colonel Vindman ``shouldn't have any fear of retaliation,'' which only 
begs the question: Why can't Secretary Pompeo make the same promise for 
State Department officials? U.S. diplomats and military officials put 
their lives at risk every day at embassies and conflict zones around 
the world. To be attacked by their own government--and at the highest 
levels--defies belief and is beneath the offices they hold.
  That President Trump and Republicans deride and bully these American 
patriots for telling the truth while Secretary Pompeo sits silently on 
his hands is simply beyond the pale. It is the opposite of what we 
teach our children. These career professionals--these

[[Page S6662]]

patriots--are models of courage and respect for our democratic system 
that the President and his circle of enablers should look to emulate 
rather than belittle.

                          ____________________